Mary E. Kraljic

Mary E. Kraljic, 85, Bismarck, formerly of Minot, passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at her home with her loving husband, John and her faithful puppy, Charlie III by her side.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Ave, Bismarck.

Visitation will be on Monday from 5-7PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with a vigil prayer service starting at 7:00 PM.

Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck.

Mary was born on March 11, 1940 in Dickinson to Martin and Elizabeth (Gawrylow) Knopik. She was the second oldest of 12 children. After graduating from high school in 1957, Mary spent a year at home on the farm helping to take care of her younger siblings. Mary then went on to pursue training to be a nurse, where she received a diploma in nursing from St. Alexius School of Nursing in 1961. It was through this program that she was in the first class to take nursing classes through the University of Mary. In 1982, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Minot State College. Mary worked as a registered nurse in Bismarck, Denver, Rolla and Minot. She retired in 1993 as the Director of Nursing at Manor Care Health Care Center, Minot.

On August 24, 1963, she married John Kraljic at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Belfield, ND. Together they built a beautiful family, including five children, nineteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Mary was very involved in all of her children’s activities and school events, volunteering as “Art Lady” through all their elementary years. As their family grew, the time she enjoyed spending with her children, spread to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was a strong and generous supporter of Catholic Education. She was very happy to see all of her children graduate from Bishop Ryan High school and continue on to receive graduate college degrees in their chosen fields.

Mary was a very devout Catholic and active at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Minot, where she served on the church council, the Altar Society and Pastoral Care Team, providing baskets of food for the needy at Thanksgiving and Christmas. She was also involved with visits to the sick, praying with the bereaved and dying. Mary spent many hours praying in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, setting aside time weekly from 2-3:00 AM and many additional times when special needs of her family or friends arose. You always knew that Mary kept you in her prayers.

Spending time at the family cabin at Van Hook was something Mary greatly enjoyed over the past 44 years. She fished, visited with family and friends, and took long walks with her dog. When she was younger, she enjoyed hunting with the boys, especially upland game. She was also the first in the family to catch a whopper walleye.

Spending time with family was what Mary enjoyed the most. She also appreciated spending time in her garden, feeding birds, quilting, doing crafts and attending craft shows. After spending 43 years in Minot, she and John moved to Bismarck to be closer to family.

She is survived by John, her husband of 61 years; children Kathy (Doug) Trail, New Virginia, IA; John (Karen) Kraljic, Loveland, CO; Judy (Kevin) Kuhn, Pensacola, FL; Michael (Dawn) Kraljic, Olathe, KS; and Dr. Steven (Becky) Kraljic, Bismarck, ND; 19 grandchildren, Stephanie (Troy) Cheek, Samantha (Grant) Eckard, Sarah Trail, Bailey Kraljic, Elijah Kraljic, Reece Kraljic, Keston (Connie) Kuhn, Josten Kuhn, Lexis (Mark) Duntz, Kaden (Vanessa) Kuhn, Sharidan Kraljic, Michael John Kraljic, Steven Kraljic, Edmund Kraljic, Thomas Kraljic, Joseph Kraljic, Magdaline Kraljic, Cloey Kraljic, Theodore Krajlic; seven great-grandchildren, Troy James Cheek, Oakleigh Cheek, Charlotte Eckard, Barrett Eckard, Beckett Eckard, Lily Duntz and Evelyn Kraljic; siblings, Simon (Isolyn) Knopik, WA, Benedette Knopik, NY, Lee Mikolai, MN, Connie (Joe) Haverluck, WA, Boniface (Leona) Knopik, ND, Ellie (Ray) Wattenhofer, MN, Alban (Barbara) Knopik, WA, Joe (Martha) Knopik, ND, Cindy (Bob) Splichal, ND and Lucy (Frank) Hurt, ND; sisters-in-law, Agnes Gaber, IL and Mary Kempel, ND and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents Martin and Betty Knopik, brother and sister-in-law, Francisco (Sandi) Knopik; brothers-in-law, Tony Gaber and Frank Kraljic, and her puppies Charlie I and Charlie II.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary are preferred to Bishop Ryan High School in Minot or Light of Christ Schools, Bismarck.